Ahmad AlbawayahSan Jose State University, Aviation After graduation from Hillsdale High School, I decided to attend CSM to finish my general education as soon as possible and at the lowest cost. With the support of the CSM staff and Transfer Services, I earned an associate degree in social science and was able to transfer to San Jose State University as a junior.

Luis Carlos AlvarezStanford University, AstrophysicsLuis Carlos attended CSM as a Middle College student in his junior year of high school because he needed more academic stimulation than regular high schools offered. By graduating, he became the first in his family to earn a high school diploma. He decided that his best course of action would be to continue to attend CSM as a college student with the goal of transferring.

Victoria AndersonUC Davis, CommunicationsVictoria Anderson fulfilled her goal of attending a university after high school graduation. However, the path to college for the Notre Dame High School graduate wasn't as straight forward as planned. After a year at a State university campus, and despite doing well in her classes, Victoria realized that she wasn't ready to make that big step as a college freshman. She decided to return home and attend CSM for her sophomore year. In doing so, Victoria became one of a growing number of reverse transfer students – students who begin their college education at universities and transfer to community colleges.

Kendrick BernasSan Francisco State University, BiologyI took my first class at CSM via the concurrent enrollment program back as a high school student and I was instantly hooked! The collaborative and dynamic learning environment along with CSM’s supportive and qualified faculty is why I chose to attend CSM. And fundamentally, that has been the cornerstone of a truly fulfilling experience that came with the opportunity to learn and succeed. As CSM students, we’re fortunate to have so many articulation agreements set up with the University of California, California State University, and private universities to ensure we have a guaranteed pathway to excellent colleges and universities.

Sarah FunesUC Berkeley, Political ScienceHaving moved to South San Francisco at 10 years old I craved the sun and a different point of view. So I decided to attend CSM with the goal of transferring to UC Berkeley. I knew I would be there longer than two years because I really struggle with math. My strategy was to complete the UC requirements and take advantage of the many resources that CSM offers.

Jamielyn GamboaUniversity of San Francisco, NursingThe experiences and memories made as a student here at CSM were priceless! I am equipped, excited, and educated because of the countless resources made available to ALL students. Despite being nervous about attending college for the first time at age 38, I was quickly put at ease by fellow students and faculty. My longtime dream of getting into a nursing program has become a reality due to caring professors who believed in my vision to make a difference.

Kassandra LastimosaUC Berkeley, Sociology and Conservation & Resources StudiesI attended CSM because I knew it was a college with great transfer success. After spending a year at Loyola University in Maryland, I knew that it wasn’t the right fit. I set my eyes on the prestigious UC system that I left behind upon my high school graduation. I chose CSM because I knew it was a vehicle to reach my goal of attending UC Berkeley.

Sarah LoweUC Davis, BiologyI loved my experience at CSM,” says Sarah Lowe, who first stepped foot on CSM’s campus as a concurrently enrolled high school student. By the time she graduated from Mills High school, she had already earned eight units of college credit and completed several college requirements. Her decision to continue at CSM as a transfer student was easy. “CSM has a great atmosphere and the people are so nice! Because I was familiar with the college and understood what professors expected, I knew attending CSM and transferring to a university was the right path for me.

Serena LyUC San Diego, Communication I attended CSM because I was unsure of what major I wanted to pursue. At CSM, I was able to take different classes and explore different fields of study, which helped me in determining a major. I found that meeting with my counselor, joining the Transfer Club and learning about CSM’s Transfer Services helped me to decide on communication studies as my major.

Karen NavalSan Jose State University, Justice StudiesI began my journey at CSM with the goal of obtaining an associate degree in administration of justice; I thought that a two-year degree would be all I would need to begin a career in law enforcement. As a first-generation college student, this experience was not only new but very scary for me. When I first enrolled, I worried that I wasn't capable of transferring to a four-year university. The EOPS program and Transfer Services helped me realize that not only was I meeting requirements for my associate degree, but I was satisfying the transfer requirements to attend a California State University campus as well.

Mario RossettiSan Francisco State University, PsychologySan Francisco State University (SFSU) psychology major Mario Rossetti says that CSM shaped him academically and contributed to his development as a well-rounded person in general. “The Mario that started at CSM and the Mario that graduated from CSM are two different people… I have CSM to thank for that!”

Robertino San DiegoUC Berkeley, B.A., EconomicsCarlmont High School graduate Robertino San Diego says CSM was the foundation that made it possible for him to earn a BA degree in economics from UC Berkeley. Choosing a university is a major decision and I wanted to get it right. CSM gave me the opportunity to make that decision while I completed all of the coursework I needed to transfer.

Nabin ShresthaUCLA, Applied MathematicsIt was a great transition coming from my native Nepal and adjusting to the higher education system in the United States. When I first arrived in the Bay Area, I was unsure about my life. My original intent in coming to the U.S. was to study computer science, but I changed my major several times. Attending College of San Mateo helped me adjust and make decisions – I finally decided to study mathematics.